C++Builder 5 Developers Guide

Useful Developer Web Sites

While we are on the subject of Web sites, it's a good time to mention some other Web sites useful for C++Builder developers. There's a mix of the types of Web sites categorized into the following:

• C++Builder

• C++ Resources

• Components and Tools

• Web Services

• Windows Technologies

C++Builder Sites

Let's start off by recognizing some of the Web sites developed and supported by fellow developers who have a passion for Borland and C++Builder. These sites contain how-to's, technical articles, and answers to frequently asked questions. Some of the best Web sites are provided in the following list.

• BCBDev.COM ” http://www.bcbdev.com This site, managed by Harold Howe a TeamB member, is a favorite of many C++Builder developers. Harold has assembled an FAQ that provides, arguably, the most concise and useful information available online. He also has many unique articles on effective ways to use C++Builder.

• BCB “CAQ ” http://bcbcaq.bytamin-c.com/ The BCB CAQ, managed by Damon Chandler and hosted by Bytamin-C, provides answers to Commonly Asked Questions. Damon, an active member of TeamB, has done a phenomenal job on this site. It contains news, tips, and tricks, and lots of example code related to C++Builder.

• Dr.Bob's C++Builder Gate ” http://www.drbob42.com/cbuilder Our own Bob Swart, a co-author of this book, and his cohort Ruurd Pels, manage the C++Builder Gate Web site, which is part of the extremely popular Dr. Bob's Programming Clinic. Dr. Bob keeps this site updated regularly with the latest information regarding Borland and C++Builder. It features a number of useful articles on C++Builder and Delphi. Many of the Delphi topics are also applicable to C++Builder.

• Temporal Doorway ” http://www.temporaldoorway.com/programming/cbuilder This site is managed by our own Mark Cashman, a co-author of this book and a prominent TeamB member. Mark has a number of useful articles and Quick Tips applicable to C++Builder.

• BCB “ “An Intro to Cultural Simulation and Visualization ” http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/geog/gessler/borland/ This site is managed by Nicholas Gessler, and provides a number of useful C++Builder tips and code examples related to simulations and artificial worlds , which is a focus of several courses in Human Complex Systems offered at UCLA.

• The BITS C++Builder Information and Tutorials Site ” http://www.thebits.org This site provides a number of tutorials on various C++Builder topics.

This, by no means, is an exhaustive list. Many members of the Borland community, sometimes referred to as the Borland Nation, have devoted Web space to C++Builder. Unfortunately, there is not ample room or time to list them all in this appendix.

C++ Resources

The number of C++ “focused sites is vast, but the following provides just a few of the more useful resource sites related to object-oriented C++ development.

• C++.org ” http://www.cplusplus.org/ Certainly these guys lucked out with the domain name. Fortunately, they live up to the name by providing a good starting point ”a portal ”for C++ development. The site includes well-organized links to a wide variety of FAQs, C++ resources, and articles.

• cprogramming.com ” http://www.cprogramming.com/ This Web site is designed to help individuals learn C or C++ and provide you with C and C++ programming resources. It contains a number of tutorials and source code.

• Dr. Dobb's Journal C/C++ Programming ” http://www.ddj.com/topics/cpp This site hosted by Dr. Dobb's magazine has reasonable activity with a number of relevant articles and C++ links.

Components and Tools

A number of independent and vendor Web sites provide very useful components and tools that you can use with C++Builder. Keep in mind that C++Builder can compile and use Delphi code. Therefore, C++Builder developers have an abundance of third-party components from which to choose. The following Web sites are just a few of the more popular resources that provide components and tools that you can use with C++Builder.

• ComponentSource ” http://www.componentsource.com ComponentSource provides an online store featuring thousands of components for multiple development environments, including VCL, CLX, and ActiveX components for Borland C++Builder and Delphi.

• Delphi Pages ” http://www.delphipages.com The Delphi Pages is a comprehensive component and resource site for C++Builder and Delphi, listing more than 1,500 components in various categories.

• DelphiSource ” http://www.delphisource.com DelphiSource provides a large repository of components for C++Builder and Delphi supporting many categories.

• Delphi Super Page ” http://delphi.icm.edu.pl/ One of the more popular component resources for all versions of C++Builder and Delphi. It contains more than 5,500 files to download and attracts more than 30,000 visitors per week.

• Eagle Software ” http://eagle-software.com/ Eagle Software offers a number of useful tools and components including CodeRush, a plug-in editor available for Delphi, and the Component Developer's Kit (CDK).

• Indy (Internet Direct) Components ” http://www.nevrona.com/Indy Indy is a set of free Internet VCL components and comes with full source.

• Raize Software ” http://www.raize.com Home of the Raize Components native VCL component suite, containing a slew of VCL and CLX visual components, and the popular CodeSite debugging tool.

• Torry's Delphi Pages ” http://www.torry.net/ This is another popular site providing components, apps, source code and tools for all versions of C++Builder and Delphi. There are over 9,000 files to download from this site.

• TurboPower Software Company ” http://www.turbopower.com TurboPower is renowned for its award-winning component suites and tools. Products include Abbrevia, a set of data compression components; AsyncProfessional for serial, FTP, Fax, and paging communications; MemorySleuth for defect tracking; Internet Professional for Internet communications; LockBox for data encryption; Orpheus, a set of visual components; and much more.

• TMS Software ” http://www.tmssoftware.com TMS Software offers some exceptional components including a very popular Advanced StringGrid, and many other visual components (and nonvisual components) that can be easily dropped onto C++Builder and Delphi applications.

• QaDRAM.Delphi ” http://delphi.qadram.com/ This is an extremely useful repository site for Borland-related articles and components.

• Woll2Woll ” http://www.woll2woll.com Woll2Woll produces several award-winning component suites for C++Builder and Delphi, including InfoPower, a set of greatly enhanced, data-aware components including grid and combo-lookup controls, and many other components.

The components provided by these repositories and vendors can save you time (and money) by saving you the hassle of reinventing existing functionality. This is the idea of component reuse. Some components are free, whereas others are sold as shareware or commercial products. If you buy a VCL or CLX component, be sure the vendor includes the source code as well the binary packing for debugging and extending a component's capabilities.

Web Services

Clearly one of the hottest technologies emerging in the 21st century is Web Services. The most recent versions of C++Builder and Delphi provide Web service support using XML, the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and the Web Service Description Language (WSDL). The following sites are focused on Web services.

• XMethods ” http://xmethods.net/ XMethods is a Web services directory used frequently by Delphi and C++Builder developers. This site provides an access point to many of the Web services implemented using Delphi, C++Builder, and a myriad of other development tools. You're encouraged to develop SOAP client examples that interface with services listed at XMethods.

• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) ” http://www.w3.org The W3C represents a standards body for interoperable technologies including specifications, guidelines, software, and tools that are focused to lead the Web to its full potential. It's an invaluable resource for developers who want to stay abreast of the latest Web-based interoperability standards including XML, WSDL, and SOAP.

• WebServices .org (W3C) ” http://www.webservices.org Stay informed with the latest Web service news at WebServices.org. Includes papers, discussions on architectures, press releases. Furthermore, WebServices.org is host for the annual XML World Conference.

Windows Technologies

Although it's anticipated that a growing number of developers will target the Linux platform with CLX-based applications, the majority of development using C++Builder will likely continue to be targeted for the Windows platform. Access to information on Windows-related technology will be vital for some time to come. The following provides a few of the many Windows Technologies “related Web sites.

• Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) ” http://www.msdn.microsoft.com The MSDN Web site provides a wealth of developer-related information on the latest Windows technologies. The site provides links to articles, downloads including SDKs and ActiveX components, and the MSDN Library as illustrated in Figure C.5.

  Figure C.5. Microsoft's MSDN Library, which is available at http://msdn.microsoft.com.

• Microsoft COM Technologies ” http://www.microsoft.com/com/ This site provides information about COM-based technologies including COM+, DCOM, and ActiveX Controls. A personal favorite found at this site is Dr. GUI's Gentle Guide to COM, located at http://www.microsoft.com/com/news/drgui.asp.

Numerous sites provide Windows development information, but none that are quite as extensive as what Microsoft provides ”the MSDN Library in particular.

The navigation tree on the left side panel of the MSDN Web site provides access to the various elements of the MSDN Library including COM, DCOM, DirectX, .NET, Windows, and XML. Search queries can also be performed on topics of interest.

In addition to the MSDN Library, Microsoft also offers the MSDN Code Center, which contains example code for various Windows-related technologies. This is illustrated in Figure C.6.

Like the MSDN Library, a navigation tree is provided to access various code examples as they relate to specific technologies. Quite often, Visual C++ examples can be used with C++Builder.

The technology components themselves , such as the DirectX SDK, the .NET Platform, and Microsoft XML Parser can be downloaded from the MSDN Downloads link as illustrated in Figure C.7.